Meh. Not that interested in these releases. I will download Moonbeam Levels via iTunes or whatever, the rest I have on CD already. And of course most of us also have that song in more or less ok quality, so I don't see the point of buying it at all. Same goes for the PR album. Will download the unreleased tracks, but no need for PR itself, remastered or not. Btw, is Tidal still a thing? Or is it bankrupt already?

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

Meh. Not that interested in these releases. I will download Moonbeam Levels via iTunes or whatever, the rest I have on CD already. And of course most of us also have that song in more or less ok quality, so I don't see the point of buying it at all. Same goes for the PR album. Will download the unreleased tracks, but no need for PR itself, remastered or not. Btw, is Tidal still a thing? Or is it bankrupt already?

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

that would be so dumb. having that track available for download on itunes and such might give them a bit of a scope on how many hardcore fans are out there, willing to pay for new tunes.

as part of the hits package only a few people will buy it. i'm still considering my options to be honest.

i would buy it on it's own. even if it was $ 5,- for just the one track. but i don't want to buy thosehits again, i've got enough compilations plus the original albums, plus the singles.

so i think many people might download moonbeam levels in good quality through other means anda lot of fairweather fans and the public at large might not buy this hits package anymore since it'snothing new and people already bought millions of those earlier this year.

i guess they don't care since it probably costs them little to nothing to throw this together, esp if itisn't remastered. plus it's going to be the 'go to' compilation from now on i guess.

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minutethat it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe ithas been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from othersalong the road.

Ok this is cool. It'll hopefully introduce Prince to more people. There are songs that have never been on other compilations. That's nice too. I like the cover even if it is one-dimensional.

What I would have wished for this kind of project is a few more unreleased songs, singles that span his entire career which includes the post-Warner years (maybe a second disc) and a different cover image. It looks too "bedroom" for me.

Maybe there will be a Volume 2 at some point which covers the post-Warner years or even a deluxe edition of this volume. If I buy it, I'll only get it for the 12-page booklet of unreleased Herb Ritts photos.

The news on the Purple Rain reissue is very exciting. I will definitely get that.

I think that Warners can only go as far as 1996 on releases Someone can correct me if needed, Most Beautiful Girl has nothing to do with Warners and released independently so that's why it wasn't included they have no rights to it for release. Unless that now changes under any deals that maybe done.

It was also released on The Gold Experience, so they have rights. It could simply be a mistake listing it or they updated the tracklist and forgot to change it.

CrabalockerFishwife said: I think that Warners can only go as far as 1996 on releases Someone can correct me if needed, Most Beautiful Girl has nothing to do with Warners and released independently so that's why it wasn't included they have no rights to it for release. Unless that now changes under any deals that maybe done.

It was also released on The Gold Experience, so they have rights. It could simply be a mistake listing it or they updated the tracklist and forgot to change it.

The Gold Experience was not released under the standard old agreement, but subject to a sub agreement and released as NPG/WB, so the likelihood hood is, WB couldn't go there. It would also explain why it was out of print.

i'm taking a wild guess that Moonbeam Levels will be an 'album only' track and you'll have to buy the full monty

that would be so dumb. having that track available for download on itunes and such might give them a bit of a scope on how many hardcore fans are out there, willing to pay for new tunes.

as part of the hits package only a few people will buy it. i'm still considering my options to be honest.

i would buy it on it's own. even if it was $ 5,- for just the one track. but i don't want to buy thosehits again, i've got enough compilations plus the original albums, plus the singles.

so i think many people might download moonbeam levels in good quality through other means anda lot of fairweather fans and the public at large might not buy this hits package anymore since it'snothing new and people already bought millions of those earlier this year.

i guess they don't care since it probably costs them little to nothing to throw this together, esp if itisn't remastered. plus it's going to be the 'go to' compilation from now on i guess.

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minutethat it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe ithas been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from othersalong the road.

P was quoted on the PR remaster as saying something like 'people looking back but I just look forward and it's the same album anyway' hinting there was no extras.

I was expecting (and hoping for) the last concert being issued this holiday season, along with a PR remastur+deluxe. I believe these would have made WB and the estate a whole lot more cash... The casual fans would love the PR and most would go for the last concert theme. IMO

By far the most compelling point is the inclusion of 'Moonbeam Levels', not because of it's quality or rarity, but rather the contractual element. Either:

- The Estate have full control and have chosen to put together a rather strange collection of tracks.

- A one off agreement was made between the Estate and WB to allow it's inclusion (but strangly not TMBGITW).

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Levels' as part of the 2014 distribution deal to be included in the Purple Rain Deluxe.

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Levels' as part of the 2014 distrubution deal which stated that the remasters were starting with Purple Rain....suggesting 1999 is on its way.

- Prince already handed WB 'Moonbeam Level's as part of the 2014 distribution deal as a single track for anther 'Hits' package.

- WB still retain rights of all recordings under the original contract, released or otherwise.

I'd like to think it would be part of the 1999 remaster in the can, but my guess is he handed WB the song as part of the 2014 deal and it wouldn't surprise me if it we see it surface of the Purple Rain Deluxe too, as one of the original '100 songs' considered by Magnoli.

WB could be milking the only new thing they have, the Purple Rain Deluxe, by putting one of the unreleased songs out early on Hits package.

As usual, whiny fans just don't get it. First, Prince had VERY FEW hits after he left WB. Yeah, WE may know he had some good songs after that, but big hits? Nah. Second, this is a WB release. Guess what? That means songs he recorded while under contract with WB. All the other stuff after was on various different labels or self released. Do you really think all the contracts/rights etc. would be worked out that quickly? No. Third. Both of these sets were more than likely in the works before P died, just like the vinyl reissues. Fourth. Welcome to the world of posthumous releases, where one or two songs are tacked on to greatest hits packages so uber-fans will buy them. Fifth. There are people in the world who don't know all these songs! This is also for them, not just YOU!! [Edited 10/21/16 3:04am]

Yep on every point. Though I hope this was something WB was already working on and not an estate thing. I get that Prince didn't have many 'hits' after TMBGITW but a compilation album doesn't have to be just about Billboard hits. Take what are generally considered the best tracks off his 1994-2015 albums and include them with his hits from the 1st WB era. If NPG owns all this stuff they should be able to license it to whomever they want. Why does it matter if the original album was released by WB or Columbia or whoever.

It matters because if something was released on Arista or Columbia or whoever there could be a contract that says "You can't release this on any other label for this number of years" or any other variation. It's a legal issue. NPG, if they are the owners and there are no restrictions could license it..... but who is NPG? The estate is not settled, there are no "owners" of NPG at this time.... so this is definitely NOT an estate thing.

[Edited 10/21/16 4:13am]

My point was I hope this isn't an estate thing because Prince's career didn't end in 1994. I don't want to see a compilation release from the estate until it can include all his music not just the WB stuff.

Come on, people.... any compilation of any artist is more or less a cash-grab.And we have to live with the sad historical moment we're now. And to some extent accept it.

I'm obviously not amazed by this release, but all in all I find a lot more cash-grabbing the old "The Very Best Of Prince"..... 1CD, no rarities, no unreleased tracks, nothing but the same rehashed hits.

Here I can see a more complete selection of songs with an unreleased song (and one of the best they could choose), and maybe some little surprise in the versions included of some tunes (even if I'm convinced that "Nothing Compares 2 U" is not an unreleased version, if it would why not mention the thing in the announcement?!?).

"The Very Best Of" is the only P CD release still missing from my shelf.... instead "4Ever" will take his place there.

Here's what I care about, MOONBEAM LEVELS. Of course a Hits package is not for us. Does make sense from a business standpoint. And having casual fans hear Moonbeam Levels will peak an interest in further material in the vault. Purple Rain is also an obvious first place to start on remastered/unreleased futrue releases. Not suprised to see Warner either, I always believed the material he recorded under contract years ago might not be so easy for him to state ownership of. who knows. Would also believe the family coud put of a "Piano & Mic" show up on Tidal pretty easy too. Atlanta anyone?? Gotta be a soundboard out there someplace.

This is the kind of release that the pessimists on here have said is the only kind of release that will enjoy robust sales. So, the pessimists should be happy as it appears the estate is doing first that which will fund the most money.

"The “Purple Rain” deluxe reissue will be released early next year, and will be based on plans agreed with Prince before his death in April. According to reports, the album may have tracks like "Electric Intercourse," "Father's Song," "All Day, All Night" and "Possessed.""

RIP OFF!!!! I already have The Hits 3-CD package, as well as the Very Best Of Prince and the Ultimate set, why should I buy YET another greatest hits set, JUST FOR ONE UNRELEASED TRACK???

An excellent example ofCASHING IN!!!!!!!

Yes - that is EXACTLY what it is. And it's the smart thing to do. You may not be aware of this, but Prince's estate owes some amount of estate taxes. Those taxes are due within about a year-and-a-half of Prince's death. Therefore, the estate is under a time pressure to raise the necessary money to pay the estate taxes.

Now, they COULD have sold Prince's catalogue to someone else. I rather imagine this would have made you unhappy. Luckily for you, Prince's estate instead chose the most logical and readily-available way to raise money to pay taxes, while retaining control and ownership of his work.

Although I hate to drop the cash for one song, I'll do it... this time. If this becomes standard operating procedure I won't keep playing. I need previously unreleased material to keep me interested. Remastering alone is not enough for me to invest in as I expect it to be done brickwall style.

"The “Purple Rain” deluxe reissue will be released early next year, and will be based on plans agreed with Prince before his death in April. According to reports, the album may have tracks like "Electric Intercourse," "Father's Song," "All Day, All Night" and "Possessed.""

Given that All Day, All Night was recorded after the Purple Rain sessions and worked on way after, that would be a strange addition.

more interested in the PR deluxe. especially what's on that bonus disc. i don't believe for one minutethat it will be full of outtakes. there was a reason warners didn't release it yet. who knows, maybe ithas been padded out recently with warners owned outtake material? we'll see soon enough i guess.it'll be an interesting release in many ways, especially as an example of what to expect from othersalong the road.

.

The more I think about it, the more unlikely it looks that an album's worth of outtakes is just getting added to PR. "Previously unreleased material" can mean a lot, even a live album. In any case, it is wildly insufficient.

I for one am very excited for these releases.... It's great to see movement and new releases coming. Yes I agree that the new greatest hits is a cash in but I take it as a sign of more releases to come. Personally I think hardcore fans should support the new releases to ensure further future releases but that's just me.Very much looking forward to a high quality version of "Moonbeam Levels."

The album cover of 4ever is pretty wack though... I agree with others that it almost doesn't look like him. It's very Michael Jackson-ish.

I follow drfunkenberry on Instagram and he posted about the two new albums being released by WB.

NikWestBass responded by saying that "Yep! He (Prince) planned to release a remastered version of Purple Rain. I was there when he was mixing it. BUT the never released stuff in the vault he definitely did not want released. But hey they did the same to MJ....money for doing absolutely nothing".

As an add on @PRNFamily tweeted a few lines from "Thieves In The Temple" and I'm starting to wonder if that was shade being thrown at WB for doing this...Just my opinion but it makes me go hmmmm....

As expected, New hits package redundant and unimaginative. I am glad it included Paisley Park, Boys and Girls, and Mountains, songs that deserve more exposure. Disappointed that the R and B hits Hate U, Partyman, and Adore didn't make the cut when several non-hits did.

Given that the first holiday season since Prince died represents the best Window to market his work, they sure missed an opportunity to release the Atlanta show or a best albums cuts CD that could have exposed casual fans to great music and perhaps pulled them more into his catalog.